Winning Open Cup could reap many benefits for Union
Ever since the Union reached Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final at PPL Park against Sporting Kansas City, the players, coaches and team executives have discussed how much it would mean for the franchise to hoist its first trophy in the its six-year existence.
Ever since the Union reached Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final at PPL Park against Sporting Kansas City, the players, coaches and team executives have discussed how much it would mean for the franchise to hoist its first trophy in the its six-year existence.
The Union earned the berth with a 1-0 semifinal win over the visiting Chicago Fire on Aug. 12.
Besides being able to fill up a trophy case, winning a U.S. Open Cup brings other benefits both financial and otherwise.
In fact the financial benefits to a Major League Soccer club such as the Union are enormous, according to team CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz.
"There is a big financial benefit," Sakiewicz said.
The U.S. Open Cup consists of all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the U.S. The single-elimination tournament has been won 15 consecutive years by MLS teams.
The biggest benefit is that the winner of Wednesday's 7 p.m. Open Cup final will earn a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, an annual tournament.
CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) is the governing body of men's and women's soccer in the region.
The winner of Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup won't begin play until the 2016-2017 Champions League competition that will start in August. Each Champions League participant hosts two games in the group stage, with more if the team advances to the knockout rounds.
"Those home games in the Champions League are very financially rewarding," he said. "You are bringing big Mexican teams, big Central American teams and you are going to get good crowds."
How financial rewarding?
"Hosting two games in the Champions League is at minimum a $1 million payday for us," Sakiewicz said. "It would be half a million each game and that is bigger than a single (MLS) playoff game."
In addition, MLS clubs receive allocation money, which is additional money for the salary cap since they will be playing more games.
"That is to beef up your roster to compete in the Champions League," Sakiewicz said.
A spokesperson said MLS hadn't made the amount of allocation money public, but a person familiar with the process estimated it at being $150,000.
And of course there is prize money to the U.S. Open Cup winner. This year the players will split up $250,000, while the losing team's players will divide $60,000.
"The [winning] money isn't what motivates us, we think of it as icing on the cake," Union midfielder Sebastien Le Toux said. "But it is something that would be something that would be nice to have."
Union coach Jim Curtin won two U.S. Open Cups as a player with the Chicago Fire in 2003 and 2006 and got to play in the Champions League. He experienced the benefits of competing there.
"It is huge from a player standpoint to play in those meaningful games in foreign countries, and it gives you great experience as a player," Curtin said.
Playing in the Champions League also gives a team from MLS added exposure.
"When you play in places like Mexico and Honduras, your badge will be all over the place," Curtin said. "The media coverage is ramped up in the Champions League and it is good exposure for the brand."
Plus, the Union scout players all over the world. It sure wouldn't hurt their scouting efforts for potential future players outside of the U.S.
"It is forever when you win a title," Curtin said. "I am still close with players I lifted the trophy with and it is something you will always cherish."
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